Compositions related to a novel endophytic fungi and methods of use

Abstract

This invention provides pesticidally effective compositions related to a novel endophytic fungi named Muscodor. Specifically, the invention relates to commercially useful formulations of Muscodor and methods for preparing such formulations. It also provides various synthetic pesticidal mixtures of volatile organic compounds isolatable from Muscodor grown on various substrates. Also provided are methods for inhibiting the growth of organisms, such as microbes, insects, and nematodes by exposing such organisms or the habitats thereof to the above Muscodor-related compositions.

1 . A Muscodor carrier formulation comprising: 
 a carrier, 
 a stabilizing agent, and  
 a culture of  Muscodor albus,    
 wherein the culture and the stabilizing agent are adhered to the carrier.  
   
     
     
         2 . The Muscodor carrier formulation of  claim 1  wherein the carrier is grain.  
     
     
         3 . The Muscodor carrier formulation of  claim 2  wherein the grain is selected from the group consisting of corn, rye, barley, rice, wheat, oat bean, and soy.  
     
     
         4 . The Muscodor carrier formulation of  claim 1  wherein the carrier is absorptive material containing nitrogen and carbon sources.  
     
     
         5 . The Muscodor carrier formulation of  claim 1  wherein the stabilizing agent is a carbohydrate.  
     
     
         6 . The Muscodor carrier formulation of  claim 5  wherein the carbohydrate is selected from the group consisting of lactose, sucrose and trehalose.  
     
     
         7 . The Muscodor carrier formulation of  claim 5  wherein the carbohydrate is lactose.  
     
     
         8 . The Muscodor carrier formulation of  claim 1  further comprising a matrix wherein the carrier, culture, and stabilizing agent are encapsulated by the matrix.  
     
     
         9 . The Muscodor carrier formulation of  claim 8  wherein the matrix is a hydrogel.  
     
     
         10 . A method for preparing a Muscodor carrier formulation comprising: 
 growing a culture of Muscodor;    inoculating a carrier with the culture of Muscodor;    adding a stabilizing agent to the carrier; and    drying the carrier.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the stabilizing agent is a carbohydrate.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the carbohydrate is selected from the group comprising sucrose, trehalose, and lactose.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the carbohydrate is lactose.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the carrier is a grain.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the grain is selected from the group consisting of corn, rye, barley, rice, wheat, oat bean, and soy.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising encapsulating the carrier before drying the carrier.  
     
     
         17 . A synthetic mixture comprising pesticidally effective amounts of at least two of the following volatile organic compounds isolatable from an isolated culture of  Muscodor albus:  2-methyl-1-butanol, isobutyl alcohol, isobutyric acid, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methylbutyl acetate, and ethyl propionate.  
     
     
         18 . The mixture of  claim 17  wherein the at least two volatile organic compounds comprise isobutyric acid and at least one of 2-methyl-1-butanol, isobutyl alcohol, ethyl propionate, and 3-methyl-1-butanol.  
     
     
         19 . A synthetic mixture comprising pesticidally effective amounts of at least two of the following volatile organic compounds isolatable from an isolated culture of  Muscodor albus:  2-methyl-1-butanol, isobutyl alcohol, methyl isobutyrate, isobutyric acid, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methylbutyl acetate, and ethyl butyrate.  
     
     
         20 . The mixture of  claim 19  wherein the at least two volatile organic compounds comprise isobutyric acid and at least one of 2-methyl-1-butanol, isobutyl alcohol, ethyl butyrate, and 3-methyl-1-butanol.  
     
     
         21 . A synthetic mixture comprising pesticidally effective amounts of at least two volatile organic compounds isolatable from an isolated culture of  Muscodor albus  grown on potato dextrose agar.  
     
     
         22 . The mixture of  claim 21  wherein the at least two volatile organic compounds comprise 3-methylbutyl acetate and propionic acid, 2-methyl, 3-methylbutyl ester.  
     
     
         23 . A synthetic mixture comprising pesticidally effective amounts of at least two volatile organic compounds isolatable from an isolated culture of  Muscodor albus  grown on brown rice grit.  
     
     
         24 . A synthetic mixture comprising pesticidally effective amounts of at least three volatile organic compounds isolatable from at least one of an isolated culture of  Muscodor albus  grown on rye grain, an isolated culture of  Muscodor albus  grown on brown rice grit, and an isolated culture of  Muscodor albus  grown on potato dextrose agar.  
     
     
         25 . The mixture of  claim 24  wherein the at least three volatile organic compounds comprise isobutyric acid and at least two of 2-methyl-1-butanol, isobutyl alcohol, ethyl propionate, ethyl butyrate, and 3-methyl-1-butanol.  
     
     
         26 . The mixture of  claim 24  wherein the at least three volatile organic compounds comprise 2-methyl-1-butanol and at least two of isobutyl alcohol, ethyl propionate, and ethyl butyrate.  
     
     
         27 . The mixture of  claim 24  wherein the at least three volatile organic compounds comprise ethyl butyrate, isobutyl alcohol, and ethyl propionate.  
     
     
         28 . The mixture of  claim 24  wherein the isolated culture of  Muscodor albus  is grown on rye grain.  
     
     
         29 . The mixture of  claim 24  wherein the at least three volatile organic compounds comprise 2-methyl-1-butanol, ethyl butyrate, isobutyl alcohol, phenethyl alcohol, ethyl isobutyrate, 2-methylbutyl acetate, and isobutyric acid.  
     
     
         30 . The mixture of  claim 24  wherein the at least three volatile organic compounds comprise 3-methyl-1-butanol, ethyl butyrate, isobutyl alcohol, phenethyl alcohol, ethyl isobutyrate, and isobutyric acid.  
     
     
         31 . A method for inhibiting the growth of organisms selected from the group consisting of microbes, insects, and nematodes comprising exposing the organism or a habitat of the organism to an effective amount of the Muscodor carrier formulation of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         32 . A method for inhibiting the growth of organisms selected from the group consisting of microbes, insects, and nematodes comprising exposing the organism or a habitat of the organism to the synthetic mixture of  claim 17 .  
     
     
         33 . A method for inhibiting the growth of organisms selected from the group consisting of microbes, insects, and nematodes comprising exposing the organism or a habitat of the organism to the synthetic mixture of  claim 19 .  
     
     
         34 . A method for inhibiting the growth of organisms selected from the group consisting of microbes, insects, and nematodes comprising exposing the organism or a habitat of the organism to the synthetic mixture of  claim 24 .  
     
     
         35 . A method for inhibiting the growth of organisms selected from the group consisting of microbes, insects, and nematodes comprising exposing the organism or a habitat of the organism to an effective amount of 3-methylbutyl acetate.  
     
     
         36 . A method for inhibiting the growth of organisms selected from the group consisting of microbes, insects, and nematodes comprising exposing the organism or a habitat of the organism to an effective amount of 3-methyl-1-butanol.  
     
     
         37 . A method for inhibiting the growth of organisms selected from the group consisting of microbes, insects, and nematodes comprising exposing the organism or a habitat of the organism to an effective amount of isobutyl alcohol.  
     
     
         38 . A method for inhibiting the growth of organisms selected from the group consisting of microbes, insects, and nematodes comprising exposing the organism or a habitat of the organism to an effective amount of methyl 2-methylbutyrate.  
     
     
         39 . A method for inhibiting the growth of organisms selected from the group consisting of microbes, insects, and nematodes comprising exposing the organism or a habitat of the organism to an effective amount of methyl isobutyrate.  
     
     
         40 . A method for inhibiting the growth of organisms selected from the group consisting of microbes, insects, and nematodes comprising exposing the organism or a habitat of the organism to less than 2500 ppm 2-methyl-1-butanol.  
     
     
         41 . A method for inhibiting the growth of organisms selected from the group consisting of microbes, insects, and nematodes comprising exposing the organism or a habitat of the organism to less than 2800 ppm isobutyric acid.